- $40 Lynn Valley Rd., 1913.

Nye House

‘Built for Alfred John Nye in 1913

. THE NYS - House is located at
the intersection. in. Lynn Valley
‘ where Mollie’. Nye . Way and
.- Lynn Valley Road meet.

It.was built for. Alfred John
Nye upon his return from the .
Boer: War. Being the first Brit- .

ish: Columbian returnee,” cin
~ $901, he received under "the
South’ African. War Grant “Act,
“ ‘District Lot 2025.

This Craftsman residence
was built in the spring and
(summer of 1913 by Norman
‘Cross at-a cost of $3,500. The
‘land has been cleared, and the

' NORTH SHORE
HERITAGE

‘basement excavated by Thomas

Spendlove.

Primarily made of local fir,
cedar, and granite, it is a strik-
ing home, with its. unique ar-

-ched porch opening -supported

by tapered stone columns.
Over the years there has been
little change made to either the

~ exterior or the interior of this

house, and it is still occupied

by Miss Mollie Nye, the
daughter of Alfred Nye.

Miss Nye, aged 78, a pioneer -

and educator in North Van-

couver, has taught hundreds of ©

children over the years. Recent-

‘ly she was ‘honored at the

North Vancouver District Hall
by. having Mollie Nye Way
named after her.

Merry Christmas, Mollie
Nye, and to ai! the North
Shore News readers, best
wishes for the holiday season,
and a Happy New Year.

Dorothy Foster

May the holiday season bring you and
’ your family peace, love, and joy.

For your convenience

we'll be open

throughout the Christmas Season

except Christmas Day, Boxing Day

Feil Avenue, North Van

and New Year's Day

(corner cf Fell & Marine)

988-7328

Friday, December 20, 1991 - North Shore News - 15

The history of
the Christmas

tree custom

AS YOU may have noticed, I have a hard time sticking to
the subject of gardening. This should not be construed to
be a sign that my interest is waning: I would suggest it is

more an indication of a propensity for shooting off my

Geoff |
Tobiasson

mouth.

In most cases, this shows up as
a casual jibe at a politician or
comments concerning my views of
our current social condition. 1 do
not see myself as a political scien-
tist nor a sociologist; I just find it
rather difficult to avoid taking pot
shots when the target is so well
defined.

* Neither do I see myself as a his-
torian, but I am still fascinated
enough at some of our customs to
find it impossible to avoid
speculating on their origins.

Take the Christmas tree, for
example. Why on earth would
anyone want to traipse off into
the woods, chop down a harmless
little evergreen, drag it, dropping
needles and all, into the house and
clothe it in baubles, tinsel and
lights?

The earliest references to a
connection between the pageant of
Christmas and trees is that of the
early medieval custom of adorning
houses with trees and winter
greenery. It has been suggested
that this may have arisen out of
response to a legend which tells
how, “On the night in which
Christ was born, all the trees in
the forest, despite snow and ice,

: bloomed and bore fruit.”’

,

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

The originator of this story is
said to be one Georg Jacob, an

Arabian geographer of ‘the. 10th -—

century. It appears to have spread
very quickly across Europe and

Asia Minor and established itseif | -

as fact. From this day forward,
we see many references regarding
the appearance of trees or shrubs .
in an assortment of Christmas
festivities, ‘but it was in Germany

See Germans page 16 _

A Gift Certificate Equa!

' to 20% of Your Purchase.

Now until December 23rd with any home
furnishings purchase of $500 or more, we'll give you a
gift certificate redeemable for additional merchandise ot your choosing —
up to an amount equal to 20% of your original purchase. Gift certificates |
do not apply to prier purchases or 72 price merchandise.

Now Two Big Locations

685-8414. CANADA'S LARGEST THOMASVILLE GALLERY

l Otis

THOMASVILLE GALLERY

1080 Mainiand Street
at Helmcken
Downtown
Vancouver, B.C.

435-5566

4240 Manor Street
Burnaby, 8.C.

(Half a block west of
Sheraton Villa Hote!)

MONDAY TO SATURDAY S AM. TO 5 BM. SUNDAY NOON TO 5 PM.